Electromechanical Transducer Thin Line Pattern Inkjet Film
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for forming ferroelectric films in electromechanical transducers face challenges in achieving uniform film thickness and preventing cracks, particularly when using the inkjet method, as ink may not sufficiently wet and spread over large application patterns, leading to uneven film formation and potential cracking during drying.
Innovation Solution
The use of a concentric ring or radial thin line pattern on the substrate's surface energy-modified regions allows ink to spread evenly, reducing the minimum width of the application pattern and preventing significant deviation, thereby facilitating controlled film thickness and preventing cracks by adjusting the gap width between thin lines to ensure proper ink distribution and drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large application pattern is used to form a ferroelectric film by inkjet method, then the film coverage area is improved, but the ink wetting and spreading becomes insufficient leading to uneven film thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The application pattern is divided into multiple thin lines spaced at specific intervals. This segmentation allows ink to properly wet and spread across each line while maintaining overall large area coverage, solving the contradiction between coverage area and film thickness uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the substrate are given different surface energy characteristics through patterned modification. The thin line regions have modified surface energy to promote ink wetting, while spacing regions maintain original properties, creating local quality variations that ensure uniform film formation across the large area
2Manufacturing precision
If the application pattern width is reduced to improve ink wetting, then the film thickness uniformity is improved, but the minimum width constraint is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The application pattern is segmented into multiple thin lines rather than using a single wide pattern. This allows the use of narrow lines (meeting minimum width constraints) while achieving large overall coverage through proper spacing and arrangement of multiple lines
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing width in one dimension, the solution uses multiple narrow lines arranged in specific patterns (concentric circles, radial lines, grids) to achieve large area coverage. This transforms the problem from a single-dimension width issue to a multi-dimensional spatial arrangement solution
3Ease of manufacture
If the inkjet method is used to form large area ferroelectric films, then the manufacturing flexibility is improved, but cracks during drying occur due to uneven film formation
Solution Approach 1:
The film is formed as multiple separate thin lines rather than a continuous large area film. This segmentation reduces stress concentration and prevents crack propagation during drying, while still achieving large overall area coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate surface is pre-modified with patterned surface energy characteristics before ink application. This preliminary action ensures proper ink wetting and uniform film formation on each thin line, preventing the uneven drying that leads to cracks
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the formation of electromechanical transducer elements with a controlled film-thickness profile and improved uniformity, even with diaphragms of greater widths, enhancing the reliability and performance of the transducer elements.
Implementation Method 1
a ferroelectric precursor sol (e.g., ink) is applied with an inkjet applicator and heated for crystallization to form a ferroelectric thin film
Implementation Method 2
a substrate being an application target is prepared into a state in which surface energy of the substrate is patterned. Accordingly, ink can spread over only a desired area(s)
Data Source
AI summary
An electromechanical transducer element includes a first electrode on a substrate, an electromechanical transducer film on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the electromechanical transducer film. The electromechanical transducer film includes a thin line pattern. The thin line pattern includes a plurality of thin lines that are spaced away from each other.